Wootton Lass impresses at Randwick trials
John Sargent prepared two of the three 1050-metre juvenile trial winners at Randwick on Thursday morning, the first being Wootton Lass, who led home a quinella for her Coolmore shuttle sire Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj).
The unraced filly improved from a second place finish at her first trial appearance over 740 metres on January 28, defeating Inglis Golden Gift (RL, 1100m) runner-up West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in his first trial of the preparation by a half-length, clocking the quickest of the three heats (1:04.85).
Bred by Yarraman Park, Wootton Lass was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by her trainer with the Laguna Partnership for $375,000. She is the first foal out of The Natural (Fastnet Rock), herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand).
Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) also stepped out as she builds towards the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) later this month, finishing third, 2.1 lengths behind Sargent’s unraced filly Lady Pankhurst (Capitalist) in a time of 1:05.80. Lambertina (Blue Point) was second, 0.9 lengths off the winner.
A $75,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling, Lady Pankhurst is a half-sister to two winners being out of the Group 2-winning Thunder Lady (Mastercraftsman), who was also trained by Sargent and was second in the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m). Segenhoe Stud are set to offer Lady Pankhurst’s half-sister by Russian Revolution (Snitzel) as Lot 529 in Book 1 of the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on March 3.
Strada Varenna (Street Boss) scored impressively in her third trial, putting 1.2 lengths on Rivendell (Ole Kirk) in a time of 1:04.91.
A $100,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase for Newgate Bloodstock, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly is out of Group 2-winning Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Varenna Miss, making her a half-sister to four winners.
Columbus (Dundeel), a $1.5 million Inglis Easter purchase for Arrowfield Stud, finished fifth in the same heat. The highest-priced colt by his sire, Columbus is out of winning Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Tides, a sister to multiple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock).
Arrowfield Stud will offer Tides’s latest filly by Pinatubo (Shamardal) as Lot 224 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April.